Le Silence de la mer – Jean-Pierre Melville’s debut film – is an adaptation of the novella of the same title by celebrated French Resistance author Vercors (the pen name of Jean Bruller). Clandestinely written in 1942 during the Nazi occupation of France and furtively distributed, it captured the spirit of the moment, and quickly became a staple of the Resistance.

Melville’s cinematic adaptation – partly shot in Vercors’ own house – tells the story of a German officer, Werner von Ebrennac (Howard Vernon), who is billeted to the house of an elderly man (Jean-Marie Robain) and his niece (Nicole Stéphane) in occupied France.

One of the most important French films to deal with World War II, and a landmark in Melville’s distinguished oeuvre, Le Silence de la mer is a lyrical, timeless depiction of the experiences and struggles of occupation and resistance.

The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Melville’s debut film for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK.

• New high-definition original aspect ratio transfer, licensed from Gaumont

• New and improved optional English subtitles on the feature, documentary, and trailer

• Video discussion by Ginette Vincendeau, professor of French cinema at King’s College London [23:00]

• MELVILLE OUT OF THE SHADOWS - A new French-made documentary about Melville's film [41:00] - Blu-ray only

• Original Theatrical Trailer - Blu-ray only

• 56-PAGE BOOKLET including an article by Ginette Vincendeau, author of Jean-Pierre Melville: An American in Paris, and a Melville interview by Rui Nogueira, author of Melville on Melville